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Secretary of State: Voter registration deadline Oct. 9

Special to The Commercial

LITTLE ROCK — Secretary of State Mark Martin Tuesday reminded the public that the deadline to register to vote in the November General Election is approaching.

“Arkansas law sets a deadline of 30 days before an election to apply to register to vote,” Martin said. “Because of the weekend and the Columbus Day holiday, the deadline for this election is Tuesday, Oct. 9.”

The registration deadline applies to all voters, including military and overseas citizens, Martin said.

The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 6. Early voting begins Oct. 22.

In addition to the presidential election, all four Congressional representatives are up for election. County officials are on the ballot, and due to redistricting all 135 seats in the Arkansas General Assembly have been up for election. Of those, 62 are uncontested; 73 seats – 18 in the Senate and 55 in the House of Representatives – are contested.

Other issues on the ballot include a proposal to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, as well as two referendums from the Arkansas General Assembly.

Issue No. 1 is known by its popular name, “An amendment to provide additional funding for state highways, county roads, city streets, bridges and other surface transportation.”

Issue No. 2 is known as “An amendment concerning municipal and county financing of sales tax anticipated revenue bond projects, unfunded liabilities of closed local police and fire pension plans, and real and tangible personal property.”

Martin encouraged voters to examine sample ballots published in their local counties and to vote early from Oct. 22 until Nov. 5. Voters may also monitor election returns in real time on the Secretary of State’s website, www.sos.arkansas.gov, where they can research results and turnout by issue, race and precinct.

“We encourage all voters to check their polling location before Election Day,” Martin said. “This can be done online at www.voterview.org, or voters can contact their local county clerk. Most importantly this week, though, we encourage people to register before the deadline.”